Parkinson disease (PD), the most common neurodegenerative
movement disorder, is characterized by dopaminergic neurodegeneration,
mitochondrial impairment, and oxidative stress. Exposure of animals to rotenone
induces a range of responses characteristics of PD, including reactive oxygen
species production and dopaminergic cell death. Although l-dopa is the drug of
choice for improving core symptoms of PD, it is associated with involuntary
movements. The current study was directed to evaluate the neuroprotective
effect of bee venom acupuncture therapy (BVA) against rotenone-induced
oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis in PD mouse model. Forty
male Swiss mice were divided into four groups; (1): received saline solution
orally and served as normal control, (2): received rotenone (1.5 mg/kg, s.c,
everyother day for 6 doses), (3): received rotenone concomitantly with l-dopa
(25 mg/kg, daily, p.o, for 6 days), and finally (4): received rotenone
concomitantly with BVA (0.02 ml once every 3 days for two weeks).
Rotenone-treated mice showed impairment in locomotor behavior and a significant
reduction in brain dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, GSH levels, and
paraoxonase activity. Whereas a significant increase was observed in brain
malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-β levels besides DNA
damage, and over-expression of caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 genes. Significant
improvement of the aforementioned parameters was demonstrated after BVA
compared to l-dopa therapy. In conclusion, bee venom normalized all the
neuroinflammatory and apoptotic markers and restored brain neurochemistry after
rotenone injury. Therefore, BVA is a promising neuroprotective therapy for PD.